Symmonds kicks his way to pair of national titles as WU men place sixth

CANTON, N.Y. — Willamette freshman Nick Symmonds won two NCAA
Division III track & field titles in the final day of the
national championships at St. Lawrence University on Saturday.

Symmonds won the 1,500 meters early in the afternoon, then about
an hour later, won the 800 meters. His two first-place finishes
gave Willamette 20 team points, putting the Bearcats in sixth-place
nationally.

The Willamette women also had two top-eight finishes on
Saturday. Sophomore Alicia Andrews placed sixth in the 800 and
sophomore Shannon McGrane took fourth in the 400 hurdles to give
the Bearcats 8 points, putting them in a five-way tie for 28th in
the national meet.

Symmonds’ time in the 1,500 was 3:46.66, narrowly edging out
Trinity (Conn.) College senior Ryan Bak, who finished in 3:46.75.
Symmonds also showed off a strong kick in the 800, coming from
behind in the final 50 meters to clip Wisconsin-Oshkosh senior Matt
Groose, 1:49.51-1:50.13. Symmonds’ 800 time bettered his own school
record of 1:51.18.

Andrews’ time of 2:12.72 was a personal best. McGrane’s time of
1:01.56 bettered her old school record of 1:02.43.

Also on Saturday, junior Jake Stout placed ninth in the 5,000
meters in a time of 14:43.69.

On Friday, WU sophomore Scott Overby placed ninth in the
3,000-meter steeplechase (9:14.58) and sophomore Jazzmin Reece took
14th in the heptathlon (4,213).

On Thursday, sophomore Zach Larsen placed ninth in the high jump
(6-7) and freshman Natalie Muren took 14th in the 10,000
(36:57.75).